Condenser lens mount



May 13, 1952 J. H. EAGLE 2,596,665

CONDENSER LENS MOUNT Filed March 29, 1950 JOHN H. EAGLE Q INVENTOR BY l/ A RNEYS Patented May 13, -1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V2,596,665

CONDENSER LENS'MOUNT John H. Eagle, Rochester, N. 'Y.,'assi'gnor:tolEast man-K'odakCompany, Rochester, N. Y., arcorporation of. New Jersey Application Mar'ch29, 1950, Serial No.'lf52,`637

'means which provides some flexibility to protect "the lenses against damage.

To theseand other ends, the invention'resi-cles in certain improvements and lcombinations of z partsall "aswill be hereinafter more fully described. the'novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

`- In the drawings:

Fig. vl. is a'plan view of a lens mount construed Tin accordance with the preferred embodiment vof the present invention;

Fig. `2 isa vertical sectional view through the mount-of the present invention, and taken substantially lon line 2 2 of Fig. 1, :showing the relationof Vthe bowed lens-positioning members to -the'lenses Land the -side plates;

iiig. `i3 is a'vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the bowed relation of the vlens-positioning members, fand therlation of the latter to the side plates; *Fig :4is a top perspective view vof the lenses :and vone of the iexible members, showing the 'parts 'of --the latter and the relation thereof to the lenses; and

'=Fig.51is-a `partial side `view of one of theside .plates showing the slots or recesses Vfor 'receiving thelugs of the'bowed lens-positioning members. Similar lreference numerals throughout the various views indicate the same parts. y

' .The drawings vshow a condenser lens mount which fcomprlses sa 'pair of upright,substantially parallel v:plates I I `land I2, the lower `and upper 'ends -o'f which 'fare connected by Ycross members S=I3 and vildp-respectively, to hold the plates in properfspacecland parallel relation, as best shown vin-Fig. '3. -A ypair of condenser lenses I5 and I6 are positioned between plates II and I2, as best shown in Figs..1 and 2. The plates II and I2 may be spaced apart a distance equal toor slightly greater than the Adiameterfof the-larger vlens... LI-Iowever,-;for :reasons 'later to be -more fully `"described, itis preierredto space "the plates a distanceiess'than the diameter'of 'thes'maller Alens I6, shown in Figs. land 3. AFor this'reason,

each plate II and I2 is formed with a large opening or aperture '"I'I throughwhich ythe segin Fig. 5 so as to approach the peripheral edges 2I of the lenses for reasons to be laterpointed out. Also, as shown in Fig. 3, the vertical distance between the edges I9 and 20 is less than the diameters of the yadjacent lens. As lenses I5 land I6 are of different diameters; obviously the edges I9 and 20 are inclined as best shown vin Fig. 5to accommodate different size lenses. In the proposed arrangement, only a single aperture Il is provided in each plate II and I2 so thatthe section of each plate between the lenses is vremoved, thus enabling the plate openings -tobe formed in a single cutting operation. However, it is contemplated that each plate may be provided with separate openings so lspaced and of such shapes'as to receive the projecting portions I8 of the lenses, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In order to mount lenses I5 and i6 on plates II and I2, the present invention provides a pair of positioning and supporting members 25 ofthe shape best shown in Fig. 4. Each memberv 25 is formed of a thin sheet of exible material, such as sheet metal. which in its normal or unfiexed relation lies in la plane. Also, eachmember 25 is vformed Vwith axially spaced apertures or slots 26 through whichthe top and bottom peripheral `edges 2I of lenses I5 and I6 -project,-as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to position thelensesaccurately on the members 25, as is deemed apparent. An intermediate airvent or slot 21 may be provided in each member 25. The opposite -marginal edges 2810i each member 25 are provided with laterallyprojecting T-shaped lugs having a' head part 29 and a lstem 3B connected to edge 28 "as best shown in Fig. 4. 'When the vmembers vi'are positioned on the lenses'they Vare in flatvshape andthe T-shaped lugs are-out of registry with edges I9 'and 20 of the aperture I1, -so that `the lugs will be spaced -a distancevgreater thanthe spacing of the edges I9 and 20.

The edges I9 and 20 are formed with'identical verticallyfaligned open slots each having anenlarged-section -33 which is largeenough to permit the ifree :passage of V-part 29 of the @lug-pi l"the adjacent member 25. The section 33 terminates in an open slot 34 adapted to receive the stem 30 as shown in Fig. 5. As the edges I9 and 20 are spaced a distance less than the unflexed member 25, it is necessary to impart a concave ilex or bow to the member 25 to bend the members toward one another, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the parts 29 will register with and pass through sections 33 of the side plates. Then, by releasing the T-shaped lugs, the bowed members 25 tend to return to the normal or planar position to move the stems 30 into the smaller recesses 34 to hold the members 25 yieldably but detachablein engaging relation with the side plates Il and l2, both to support and position the two condenser lenses on the members 25 and also relative to the side plates Il and l2. The T-shaped lugs onthe members 25 and the cooperating slots 33 and 34 on the plates Il and l2 provide, in eect, bayonet connections between the plates and the member to connect the latter releasably to the plate to support and position the lenses relative thereto.

As is well known, condenser lenses are relatively large and heavy so that if subjected to a heavy impact force, such as by dropping, the lenses may be damaged or they may be dislocated in the mounting means. For this reason the plates il and i2 are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the smaller lens I6 so that the lenses extend through the aperture Il, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and mentioned above. As shown in Fig. 3 the edges I3 and 2i) of plates Il and l2 are positioned in close proximity to the peripheral edges 2l of the lenses. 'lhe result is that the edges I9 and 20 limit the up and down, as well as sidewise movement, of the lenses yet allow slight play to permit free expansion of the lenses, but permit a slight play to take up any impact force imparted to the lens mount. The two members 25 also serve to absorb any shock which might be otherwise transmitted directly to the lenses. The result is that the lenses are retained accurately in position, and are cushioned so as to prevent damage thereto, the advantages of which are apparent to those familiar with lens mounts.

The present invention thus provides a mount which accurately positions the lenses and cushions them against shocl to prevent damage to the lenses. The mount is formed of few parts of rugged construction, simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and highly effective in use. I`

While one embodiment of the, invention has been disclosed, it is apparent that the invention maybe modified in Aa variety of ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. For this reason the claims are to be limited only insofar as is necessitated by the prior art.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A lens mount comprising in combination, a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of bowed iiexible members engaging diametrically opposite peripheral portions of said lens to support said lens, andv bayonet connections between said plates and members to connect the latter releasably to said plates to position and support said lens on said plates.

2. A lens mount comprising in combination, a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of bowed flexible members engaging diametrically opposite peripheral portions oi said lens to support said lens, said members being formed with aligned slots to receive said portions to position said lens on said members, and bayonet connections between said plates and members to connect the latter releasably to said plates to mount said lens there- 3. A lens mount comprising in combination, a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of bowed iiexible members engaging diametrically opposite peripheral portions of said lens to support said lens, and bayonet connections between said plates and members comprising laterally projecting flexible tongues formed on said members and extending into registering slots formed in said plates to connect said member detachably to said plates to support said lens on the latter.

4. A lens mount comprising in combination, a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of bowed flexible members engaging diametrically opposite peripheral portions of said lens to support said lens, means on said members engaging said lens to position the lens on said member, and bayonet connections between said plates and members to connect the latter releasably to said plates to position and support said lens on said plates.

5. A lens mount comprising in combination, a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of bowed flexible members engaging diametrically opposite peripheral portions of said lens to support said lens, said member having parts extending beyond said plates, and means to connect said parts releasably to said plates both to bow said members and to support said lens on said plate.

6. A lens mount comprising in combination, a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of normally flat iiexible members positioned to engage diametrically opposite peripheral edges of said lens, lugs projecting from the opposite sides of said Vmembers and extending beyond said plates, said plates having pairs of aligned slots positioned out of the planes of said iiat members, and portions o n said lugs engaging said slots to bend said members to a bowed form to clamp said lens to hold the latter and to support said lens on said plates.

7. A lens mount comprising in combination, a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of normally flat flexible members positioned to engage vdiametrically opposite peripheral edges of said lens, lugs projecting from the opposite sides of said members and extending beyond said plates, said plates having pairs of aligned slots positioned out of the planes of said flat members, and portions on said lugs engaging said slots to connect said members detachably to said plate, the engaging of said lugs and slots serving to impart a concave bending to said members to clamp saidlens therebetween. Y

8. A lens mount comprising in combination. a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of normally :dat flexible members positioned to engage diametrically `opposite peripheral edges of said lens. lugs projecting from the opposite sides of said members and extending beyond said plates, said plates having pairs of aligned slots positioned out of the planes of said flat members, and portions on said lugs engaging said slots to connect said members detachably to said plates, the engaging of said lugs and slots serving to impart a concave bend-1 ing to said members to clamp said lens therebetween, and means on said members for positioning said lens thereon.

9. A lens mount comprising in combination, a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of normally flat flexible members positioned to engage diametrically opposite peripheral edges of said lens, lugs projecting from the opposite sides of said members and extending beyond said plates, said plates having pairs of aligned slots positioned out of the planes of said flat members and spaced vertically a distance less than said at members, said lug engaging in said slots to connect said members detachably to said plates to support said lens thereon, said engagement serving to ex said members toward each other to engage said edges to clamp and position said lens on said members.

10. A lens mount comprising in combination, a pair of substantially parallel rigid plates between which a lens is positioned, a pair of normally at flexible members positioned in engagement with diametrically opposite edges of said lens, each of said plates being formed With an aperture positioned in alignment with and receiving said edges, Walls on said apertures engaging said edges to 6 position said lens on said members, laterally extending lugs formed on said members, and means on said plates cooperating with said lugs to secure said member detachably to said plates so that the latter will support said lens, the means on said plates being arranged out of the planes of the at members so that said securing of said lugs will impart a bending of said members toward each other to cause said members to clamp said lens. I

JOHN H. EAGLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 786,052 Roebuck Mar.'28, 1905 1,032,065 Kamm July 9, 1912 1,118,187 Depue Nov. 24, 1914 2,231,743 Young et al Feb. 11, 1941 2,456,711 Knutson et al. Dec. 21, 1948 2,468,565 Marcus et al Apr. 26, 1949 2,477,107 Wolfe July 26, 1949 

